Interjection ban on National dog barker, and crappy “stupid little girl” cop out

Parliament’s question time can be raucous, with some members barking at every passing Minister. National MP David Bennett annoyed the Speaker enough today to earn a two day ban on interjecting.

In Question No. 9—Children:

Darroch Ball: What is the Minister doing to ensure that children get the best services that they need?

Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Excuse me, Mr Speaker. I forgot that we had one other question coming, perhaps. On behalf of the Minister for Children today, Oranga Tamariki are holding the first of 14 regional hui with their 525 providers to talk about how they will work together in the future to ensure that all services meet the best needs of the child. Collectively, they receive around $268 million from Oranga Tamariki per year. The ministry is trying to give them greater certainty around their funding and is moving to longer-term contracts—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume her seat. David Bennett will stand, withdraw, and apologise.

Hon David Bennett: I withdraw and apologise.

In Question No. 11—Social Development:

11. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development: What recent announcements has she made regarding the Growing Up in New Zealand study?

Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Mr Speaker—

Hon David Bennett: Oh, has she got her notes this time? Good on her!

Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Today, I announced that the Government would restore more than $1.9 million—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. Now, Mr Bennett, your interjections are very, very frequent. Referring to members using notes in the House to answer questions is an area which is totally my responsibility and not for you to comment on. I would like to remind the member that several of his colleagues rely heavily on notes, not to answer questions, which is quite a lot harder, but even to ask them.

In Question No. 12—Employment:

Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): Thank you, Mr Speaker. In response to the first part of the question, of course I stand by my statements. As for the second part, the policy response for job seekers remains the responsibility of the Minister for Social Development.

Hon Paula Bennett: Does he stand by his statement that “people have commitments,” as reasons that unemployed New Zealanders cannot pick fruit, and, if so, how many commitments does an individual need to not have to show up to work?

Hon David Bennett: How many commitments have you got?

Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Of course I stand by—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! David Bennett, once again you have interjected, involving me in the answer, and what we’re going to do is have you on an interjection ban for the rest of this question time and tomorrow. [Interruption] Order!

Overyapping in Parliament is unlikely to do the opposition any good, Putting a muzzle on Bennett for a couple of days will be better for the House.

David

Gerrit

Is it out of touch? Is it last century? Is it being an arse? Perhaps for the thin skinned and easily offended? Hence the need for a Labour “safe space”?

I think they will find a lot of favours with the voters.

The honeymoon for the Labour led government is well and truly over and no amount of the speakers protection will encourage them to great political heights.

National are taking the message to the masses away from the debating chamber and out into the electorate. Leaving question time to become a sterile place for patsy questions under Mallards protections and be seen for the waste of time it has become.

David

Corky

National doesn’t need this..deserved or otherwise. Hell, all they have to do is sleep walk to victory. They should be looking to praise the government for any initiative they agree with.
Given the unprofessional look of Grant Robinson chewing gum like a cow on ONE NEWS tonight, National can afford to be generous. What a disgusting spectacle Robinson was.

Kitty Catkin

Fighting in a public place. He and Tau Henare, I think, took swings at each other, It was nothing major and had it not been for Mr Busybody McCready taking a case against the ‘victim’s’ wishes because it undoubtedly WAS ‘fighting in a public place’ (thereby wasting many people’s time and money) it would have been a nine second wonder.

Alan Wilkinson

Gezza

Exactly. So why did you post it?
Unparliamentary name-calling is not to be encouraged. By either side. I am not paying any of these beggars to treat the Chamber as a playground. As it was when Carter diddled about.
Look, don’t bother replying. It won’t be reading either.

Trevors_Elbow

Gezza

I missed it. I’ll have a look at the replay at 6. Watching QT and staying awake can be a bit of challenge when the Gummint gets Patsy Questions. There’s usually some newbie getting the chance to bumble robotically thru a script and a Minister saying “that’s an excellent question”, followed by another laboriously read out set of responses. I find I switch off and miss the start of the next more interesting one, quite often.

But every now & then a Patsy Question does give you a bit of information about something interesting the government’s actually doing or done.

duperez

National look like a pack of mongrel MPs who have no idea how to build respect in opposition
because no-one owns up to that interjection?
Maybe to a very few who take any notice. Those who think they look like a pack of mongrel MPs already do regardless of the incident and aftermath.
Build respect in opposition? Those who think them wonderful won’t lose respect because of it. Those who don’t like them will likely judge them not worthy of respect regardless.